Apparatus and method for adjusting inputted color concerning total and specific colors

ABSTRACT

A specific color-adjusting stage adjusts data of an inputted color with respect to a specific color. A total color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputted color with respect to a total color. The specific color-adjusting stage and the total color-adjusting stage are provided in parallel. A composing unit composes linearly an output of the specific color-adjusting stage and an output of the total color-adjusting stage. When a degree that the total color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputted color increases, then a degree that the specific color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputted color decreases, and vice versa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a color-adjusting apparatus thatadjusts color data for a color reproduction device, such as a TVapparatus, a mobile terminal, a computer display, and a color printer,and arts related thereto. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a technique that adjusts a specific color and a total colorof an inputted image.

In this specification, all kinds of physical quantity indicating how acolor is bright, such as lightness, value, luminance, and so on, isgenerically called “brightness”. Similarly, all kinds of physicalquantity indicating how a color looks vivid, such as chromaticity,saturation, and so on, is generically called “chroma”. Note that a coloris a three-dimensional vector in a color space, basically.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, a user of the TV apparatus can adjust a chroma phase and achroma level of analog video signals reproduced thereby, utilizing aconventional color-adjusting apparatus mounted therein. Furthermore, theuser can adjust a total color of the TV apparatus to his/her favoritecolor, changing a level of brightness of the analog video signals.

Adjusting the total color is effective, when difference of conditions,such as lighting environment, color characteristics of a camera and/or adisplay device, should be absorbed to perform transparent reproduction,and when chroma should be increased to reproduce colors more vividly.Once the total color has been adjusted suitably, the user may be almostsatisfied with a result of the color reproduction. In thisspecification, a “total” color is a color that is an object of the totalcolor adjustment.

Meanwhile, it is known that a “memory color”, such as skin color, skyblue, grass green, and so on, which is well retained in human memory,differs from a color of the real thing corresponding thereto. In theso-called “preferred color reproduction” (for example, in reproductionof the “memory color”), it is insufficient to perform the total coloradjustment merely. Furthermore, it is necessary to be able to adjust acurrent color to the “memory color”, individually. In thisspecification, a “specific” color is a color that is an object of thespecific color adjustment.

A document 1 (published Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.H05-300531) discloses a color-adjusting method that adjusts a specificcolor region individually, by designating the specific color.

A document 2 (published Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.H06-78320) discloses a color-adjusting apparatus. The color-adjustingapparatus sets a weighting coefficient, according to difference betweenan inputted chroma value and a pre-selected reference chroma value. Thecolor-adjusting apparatus then adjusts a particular subject of a colorin a chroma plane, whose coordinates are hue components and chromacomponents, based on the weighting coefficient.

Furthermore, a document 3 (published Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. H10-198795) discloses a color-adjusting apparatus. Thecolor-adjusting apparatus of the document 3 calculates a colorapproximation degree hx that indicates an approximation degree of thecurrent hue to a designated hue.

The color-adjusting apparatus of the document 3 adjust a color of (R, G,B) to output a color of (R′, G′, B′), according to the followingformula.(R′, G′, B′)=(R, G, B)+hx*(a1, a2, a3),where a1, a2, and a3 are vector-adjusting coefficients for R, G and B,respectively.

Referring to the documents 1, 2 and 3, a color-adjusting apparatus thatadjusts both of the specific color and the total color may beconstructed as shown in FIG. 13.

In FIG. 13, a total color-adjusting unit 1 performs the total coloradjustment of data of an inputted color, and outputs a result vector ofthe total color adjustment to a composing unit 6 and a specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 3. Thanks to the totalcolor adjustment, the difference of conditions, such as lightingenvironment, color characteristics of a camera and/or a display device,has been absorbed.

A specific color-adjusting stage 2, which is provided next to the totalcolor-adjusting unit 1, comprises the following elements. The specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 3 calculates a weightingcoefficient k with respect to a specific color, such as skin color, andso on.

A specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 4 outputs, to amultiplying unit 5, data of an adjusting vector δ with respect to thespecific color. The multiplying unit 5 multiplies the adjusting vector δby a scalar of the weighting coefficient k to output data of a weightedvector to the composing unit 6.

The composing unit 6 inputs the data of the result vector of the totalcolor adjustment from the total color-adjusting unit 1, and inputs thedata of the weighted vector from the multiplying unit 5.

The composing unit 6 adds the result vector and the weighted vector, andoutputs data of an added vector. In short, first, the total coloradjustment is made; secondly, the specific color adjustment is made.That is, with respect to the specific color, adjustments are duplicated.

It is assumed that the data of the inputted color has chroma components,each of which has 8-bit data length (256 scales in total). Furthermore,it is assumed that the chroma components should be multiplied by afactor of “1.2”, generally, and further that a chroma component of thespecific color should not be changed.

In this case, the total color-adjusting unit 1 multiplies the chromacomponents of the inputted color by the factor of “1.2”, and outputsdata of a result vector. The specific color-adjusting vector-outputtingunit 4 and/or the multiplying unit 5 multiplies, by a factor of “1/1.2”,the chroma component of the specific color, the chroma component beingincluded in the data of the result vector. That is, with respect to thespecific color, duplication of adjustments cannot be avoided.

In digital image processing, since each of coordinates of the inputtedcolor is quantized, quantization errors may occur in some cases. Forexample, choose an original value of “99”, multiplied by a factor of“1.2”, and multiplied by a factor of “1/1.2”; the result is “98”, whichdoes not equal the original value. Also, after the duplicatedadjustment, in many cases, a quantization error may occur, thereby thechroma component of the specific color may be changed, contrary toexpectations.

Furthermore, in the digital image processing, a clip of a value mayoccur in some cases. When data has 8-bit length, a value of the datacannot be 256 or more. For example, choose an original value of “250”,multiplied by a factor of “1.2”; the result is not “300” but “255”,because a clip of the value has occurred. In addition, the result of“255” multiplied by a factor of “1/1.2” is “212”, which does not equalthe original value.

In a case where the color-adjusting apparatus should adjust both of thespecific color and the total color, since the adjustments must beduplicated according to the prior arts, quality of an inputted image isdeteriorated very easily, caused by the quantization error and/or theclip of a value, and so on.

Meanwhile, it is assumed that brightness and/or chroma with respect tothe specific color should not be changed, and further that hue of thespecific color should be changed to more preferable one. In this case,since the total color-adjusting unit 1 has adjusted the total colorbefore adjustment of the specific color, whole conversion loseslinearity, and handling thereof is very difficult.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide acolor-adjusting apparatus that can reduce deterioration of image qualitycaused by the quantization error and/or the clip, and further that canbe handled easily.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus comprising: a total color-adjusting stage operable to performa total color adjustment for data of an inputted color with respect to atotal color to output data of a result vector of the total coloradjustment; a specific color-adjusting stage operable to perform aspecific color adjustment for the data of the inputted color withrespect to a specific color to output data of a result vector of thespecific color adjustment; and a composing unit operable to linearlycompose the data of the result vector of the total color adjustmentoutput by the total color-adjusting stage and the data of the resultvector of the specific color adjustment output by the specificcolor-adjusting stage; wherein the total color-adjusting stage and thespecific color-adjusting stage are provided to operate in a parallelmanner; wherein, when a degree that the total color-adjusting stageadjusts the data of the inputted color increases, then a degree that thespecific color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputted colordecreases; and wherein, when a degree that the total color-adjustingstage adjusts the data of the inputted color decreases, then a degreethat the specific color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputtedcolor increases.

With this structure, the total color-adjusting stage performs the totalcolor adjustment and the specific color-adjusting stage performs thespecific color adjustment, in parallel. The composing unit linearlycomposes the data of the result vector of the total color adjustment andthe data of the result vector of the specific color adjustment. When adegree increases in that the total color-adjusting stage adjusts thedata of the inputted color, then a degree decreases in that the specificcolor-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputted color, and viceversa. Accordingly, with respect to the specific color, the total coloradjustment and the specific color adjustment are not duplicated, anddeterioration of image quality caused by quantization errors, clips, andso on, occurs hardly. Consequently, quality of an adjusted image can beretained fine.

Since the degrees of adjustments have the above-mentioned relationship,the total color adjustment and the specific color adjustment do notinterfere with each other. According to the color-adjusting apparatus,although both of the total color adjustment and the specific coloradjustment are carried out, almost the same result can be obtained asthat of a case where the data of the inputted color is adjustedexclusively with respect to the specific color. In other words, it iseasy to perform the “preferred color reproduction”.

Since it is considerable that the total color-adjusting stage and thespecific color-adjusting stage are provided separately from each other,a user of the color-adjusting apparatus may think that the data of theresult vector of the total color adjustment and the data of the resultvector of the specific color adjustment are independent from each other.The overall conversion of the color-adjustment apparatus is neither notnon-liner nor complicated, because the composing unit linearly composesthe data of the result vector of the total color adjustment and the dataof the result vector of the specific color adjustment. Therefore, theuser can carry out necessary color adjustment, easily.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the first aspect of the present invention,wherein the total color-adjusting stage comprises: a totalcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit operable to calculate atotal color-weighting coefficient indicating an approximation degree ofthe inputted color and the total color; a total color-adjustingvector-outputting unit operable to output data of a totalcolor-adjusting vector with respect to the total color; and a totalcolor-multiplying unit operable to multiply the total color-adjustingvector by the total color-weighting coefficient to output the data ofthe result vector of the total color adjustment; wherein the specificcolor-adjusting stage comprises: a specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit operable to calculate a specificcolor-weighting coefficient indicating an approximation degree of theinputted color and the specific color; a specific color-adjustingvector-outputting unit operable to output data of a specificcolor-adjusting vector with respect to the specific color; and aspecific color-multiplying unit operable to multiply the specificcolor-adjusting vector by the specific color-weighting coefficient tooutput the data of the result vector of the specific color adjustment;wherein, when the total color-weighting coefficient increases, then thespecific color-weighting coefficient decreases; wherein, when the totalcolor-weighting coefficient decreases, then the specific color-weightingcoefficient increases; and wherein the composing unit is operable to addthe inputted color, the result vector of the total color adjustment, andthe result vector of the specific color adjustment to output data of anadjusted color.

With this structure, sum-of-products calculation, using the totalcolor-weighting coefficient, the total color-adjusting vector, thespecific color-weighting coefficient, and the specific color-adjustingvector, is performed. According to the sum-of-products calculation, thetotal color adjustment and the specific color adjustment are carried outin parallel. Preventing the quantization errors, clips, and so on,quality of the adjusted image can be kept fine. Furthermore, thespecific color adjustment for the “preferred color reproduction” and thetotal color adjustment for the transparent reproduction can be madealtogether.

In addition, the adjusted color is not a color that is converteddirectly from the inputted color, but the sum of the inputted color, theresult vector of the total color adjustment, and the result vector ofthe specific color adjustment. Accordingly, an adjusted image composedof a plurality of adjusted colors can retain gradation of an inputtedimage composed of a plurality of inputted colors.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the first aspect of the present invention,wherein, when the inputted color equals the specific color, the specificcolor-weighting coefficient equals a maximum value; wherein, when adistance in color space between the inputted color and the specificcolor increases, the specific color-weighting coefficient decreases; andwherein, when the inputted color is not equivalent to the specificcolor, the total color-weighting coefficient is equivalent to themaximum value minus the specific color-weighting coefficient.

With this structure, when the inputted color equals the specific color,the specific color-weighting coefficient equals the maximum value. Whenthe distance between the inputted color and the specific colorincreases, the specific color-weighting coefficient decreases. When theinputted color does not equal the specific color, the totalcolor-weighting coefficient equals the maximum value minus the specificcolor-weighting coefficient. Therefore, the result vector of the totalcolor adjustment and the result vector of the specific color adjustmentchange, gradually and cooperatively.

In general, in the inputted image, when there is a first portion whosecolor is the specific color, and a second portion whose color is not thespecific color, pseudo-outlines often appear along a border between thefirst portion and the second portion. However, with this structure,since the result vector of the total color adjustment and the resultvector of the specific color adjustment change smoothly, the occurrenceof the pseudo-outlines can be lessened.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the first aspect of the present invention,wherein the specific color-weighting coefficient is determined based ona weighting coefficient kv evaluated on a brightness axis, a weightingcoefficient kc evaluated on a chroma axis, and a weighting coefficientkh evaluated on a hue axis.

With this structure, reflecting the weighting coefficients kv, kc andkh, the specific color adjustment can be carried out.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the first aspect of the present invention,wherein the data of the specific color-adjusting vector is determinedbased on the data of the inputted color.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the first aspect of the present invention,wherein the data of the total color-adjusting vector is determined basedon the data of the inputted color.

With these structures, according to the inputted color, the specificcolor-adjusting vector and the total color-adjusting vector can be set.

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the second aspect of the present invention, thecolor-adjusting apparatus further comprising: a color area-judging unitoperable to store individual area information of a color space dividedinto a plurality of areas; wherein the color area-judging unit isoperable to determine an area to which the inputted color belongs, thearea being one of the plurality of areas, and outputs area informationcorresponding to the inputted color; wherein the specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit is operable to calculate,using the area information corresponding to the inputted color, thespecific color-weighting coefficients indicating the approximationdegree of the inputted color and the specific color; and wherein thespecific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit is operable to output,using the area information corresponding to the inputted color, the dataof the specific color-adjusting vector with respect to the specificcolor.

An eighth aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the seventh aspect of the present invention,wherein the specific color-adjusting stage further comprises: a specificcolor-weighting coefficient-selecting unit operable to store a pluralityof specific color-weighting coefficients, and operable to outputs aspecific color-weighting coefficient among the plurality of specificcolor-weighting coefficients corresponding to the area information; anda specific color-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit operable tostore a plurality of specific color-adjusting vector coefficients, andoperable to output a specific color-adjusting vector coefficient amongthe plurality of specific color-adjustment vector coefficientscorresponding to the area information; wherein the specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit is operable to calculate,using the specific color-weighting coefficient corresponding to the areainformation, the specific color-weighting coefficients indicating theapproximation degree of the inputted color and the specific color; andwherein the specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit is operableto output, using the specific color-adjusting vector coefficientcorresponding to the area information, the data of the specificcolor-adjusting vector with respect to the specific color.

With these structures, the color area-judging unit is provided. The areainformation is used for dividing the color space of the inputted colorinto the plurality of areas. Using the area information, the specificcolor-weighting coefficient and the specific color-adjusting vectorchange according to an area to which the inputted color belongs.Therefore, specific color adjustment with respect to a plurality ofspecific colors can be made. Furthermore, the total color adjustment andthe specific color adjustment are not duplicated, and deterioration ofimage quality caused by quantization errors, and so on, can be reduced.

In addition, even when color adjustments with respect to a plurality ofspecific colors should be made, it is sufficient to provide one set ofthe specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit and thespecific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit. That is, a necessarycircuit scale can be reduced in comparison with a case where a number ofsets of the specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit andthe specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit are provided.Herein, the number is equal to a number of the plurality of specificcolors.

A ninth aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the seventh aspect of the present invention,wherein the specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit isoperable to use the area information as an offset of a domain thatdefines one of the plurality of areas to which the inputted colorbelongs.

A tenth aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the second aspect of the present invention,wherein the color-adjusting apparatus further comprising: a colorspace-converting unit operable to map the data of the inputted color inan original color space into data of the inputted color in another colorspace defined by a brightness coordinate, a chroma coordinate, and a huecoordinate, and further operable to output data of the inputted colormapped to the other color space to the specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the second aspect of the present invention, thecolor-adjusting apparatus further comprising: a color space-inverseconverting unit operable to map the data of the adjusted color in acolor space defined by a brightness coordinate, a chroma coordinate, anda hue coordinate into data of the adjusted color in an original colorspace of the inputted color.

With these structures, a user of these color-adjusting apparatuses canset the specific color-weighting coefficient, intuitively and easily.Since quantization errors and/or clips caused by color space conversionand color space inverse conversion are lessened, deterioration of colorquality can be reduced.

A twentieth aspect of the present invention provides a color-adjustingapparatus as defined in the tenth aspect of the present invention,wherein the color space defined by the brightness coordinate, the chromacoordinate, and the hue coordinate is an HSV color space.

In many cases, the inputted color is expressed in the RGB color space.Each of the RGB color space and the HSV color space has the samecapacity. Accordingly, any clip may not be caused by mapping theadjusted color in the HSV color space into the adjusted color in the RGBcolor space, which is an original color space of the inputted color,does not cause.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate the same elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram, illustrating a color-adjusting apparatusaccording to an embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2( a) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kh (hue) inthe embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2( b) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kc (chroma) inthe embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2( c) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient ky(brightness) in the embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram, illustrating a color-adjusting apparatusaccording to an embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( a) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kh (hue, skincolor) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( b) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient ks (chroma,skin color) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( c) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kv(brightness, skin color) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( d) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kh (hue, skyblue) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( e) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient ks (chroma,sky blue) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( f) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kv(brightness, sky blue) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( g) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kh (hue, grassgreen) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( h) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient ks (chroma,grass green) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4( i) is a graph, explaining a weighting coefficient kv(brightness, grass green) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( a) is a graph, explaining hue 6H of an adjusting vector δ (skincolor) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( b) is a graph, explaining chroma δs of the adjusting vector δ(skin color) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( c) is a graph, explaining brightness δv of the adjusting vectorδ (skin color) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( d) is a graph, explaining hue δH of an adjusting vector δ (skyblue) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( e) is a graph, explaining chroma δs of the adjusting vector δ(sky blue) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( f) is a graph, explaining brightness δv of the adjusting vectorδ (sky blue) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( g) is a graph, explaining hue δH of an adjusting vector δ (grassgreen) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( h) is a graph, explaining chroma δs of the adjusting vector δ(grass green) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5( i) is a graph, explaining brightness 6 v of the adjusting vectorδ (grass green) in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 6( a) is a graph, explaining hue of a total color-adjusting vectorΔ in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 6( b) is a graph, explaining chroma of the total color-adjustingvector Δ in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 6( c) is a graph, explaining brightness of the totalcolor-adjusting vector Δ in the embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a descriptive illustration, showing an RGB color space in theembodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a descriptive illustration, showing an HSV color space in theembodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram, illustrating a color-adjusting apparatusaccording to an embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 10( a) is a descriptive illustration, showing a first area in theembodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 10( b) is a descriptive illustration, showing a second area in theembodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 10( c) is a descriptive illustration, showing a third area in theembodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram, illustrating a color-adjusting apparatusaccording to an embodiment 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a graph, showing a function for calculating a specificcolor-weighting coefficient in the embodiment 4 of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a block diagram, illustrating a conventional color-adjustingapparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention will nowbe explained. In the following embodiments, vectors, such as a color,adjusting vectors, result vectors, and so on, are expressed using data.

(Embodiment 1)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram, illustrating a color-adjusting apparatusaccording to an embodiment 1 of the present invention.

The color-adjusting apparatus of the embodiment 1 adjusts an inputtedcolor of an inputted image, with respect to one specific color and atotal color, in parallel. As shown in FIG. 1, the color-adjustingapparatus comprises the following elements.

A specific color-adjusting stage 100 adjusts an inputted color withrespect to a specific color. A total color-adjusting stage 200, which isprovided in parallel to the specific color-adjusting stage 100, adjuststhe inputted color with respect to the total color. A composing unit 16linearly composes a vector outputted by the specific color-adjustingstage 100 and a vector outputted by the total color-adjusting stage 200.

The specific color-adjusting stage 100 comprises the following elements.A specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 10 calculates aspecific color-weighting coefficient k, which indicates an approximationdegree of the inputted color and the specific color.

A specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 14 outputs a specificcolor-adjusting vector δ to a specific color-multiplying unit 12. Thespecific color-multiplying unit 12 multiplies the specificcolor-adjusting vector δ by a scalar of the specific color-weightingcoefficient k to output a result vector k*δ of a specific coloradjustment to the composing unit 16.

The total color-adjusting stage 200 comprises the following elements. Atotal color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 11 calculates a totalcolor-weighting coefficient (1−k). When the specific color-weightingcoefficient k increases, then the total color-weighting coefficient(1−k) decreases, and vice versa.

A total color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 15 outputs a totalcolor-adjusting vector Δ to a total color-multiplying unit 13. The totalcolor-multiplying unit 13 multiplies the total color-adjusting vector Δby a scalar of the total color-weighting coefficient (1−k) to output aresult vector (1−k)*Δ of a total color adjustment to the composing unit16.

The composing unit 16 inputs the result vector (1−k)*Δ of the totalcolor adjustment from the total color-adjusting stage 200, and inputsthe result vector k*δ of the specific color adjustment from the specificcolor-adjusting stage 100.

The composing unit 16 adds the result vectors (1−k)*Δ and k*δ, andoutputs an added vector ((1−k)*Δ+k*δ). Herein, when k=1, the addedvector equals δ, and only the result of the specific color adjustmentremains and the result of the total color adjustment is cancelledsubstantially. On the contrary, when k=0, the added vector equals A, andonly the result of the total color adjustment remains and the result ofthe specific color adjustment is cancelled substantially. Note that,when k=1 or 0, the total color adjustment and the specific coloradjustment are not duplicated.

In the embodiment 1, the inputted color is expressed using polarcoordinates (y, c, h), which are converted from YCbCr data, each ofwhich contains a brightness component Y and two chroma components Cb andCr.

The specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 10 inputs theinputted color, and calculates a weighting coefficient k using afunction that defines an approximation degree of the inputted color andthe specific color.

FIG. 2( a) explains an example of a function of a weighting coefficientkh with respect to hue. Similarly, FIG. 2( b) explains an example afunction of a weighting coefficient kc with respect to chroma, and FIG.2( c) explains an example a function of a weighting coefficient ky withrespect to brightness.

In this embodiment, the weighting coefficient kh with respect to hue isan important factor, when the color-adjusting apparatus according tothis embodiment adjusts the inputted color. In this embodiment, thespecific color is skin color, which is a “memory color”.

As shown in FIG. 2( a), in a hue h axis, when the hue h=P1, the hue hindicates center hue of skin color, and the weighting coefficient khequals a maximum value of “1”. When the hue h=P2 or P3, which definesboundaries deviated from the center hue P1 of skin color, the weightingcoefficient kh equals a minimum value of “0”.

In general, the specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 10determines that the weighting coefficient kh is the maximum value of“1”, when hue of the inputted color (y, c, h) is correspondent to thatof the specific color (yx, cx, hx). The weighting coefficient khdetermined by the specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit10, decreases gradually, when the hue h of the inputted color (y, c, h)moves from the center hue P1 of the specific color (yx, cx, hx), whichis skin color in the embodiment 1, to one of the boundaries P2 and P3along the hue h axis.

Almost similar to the weighting coefficient kh, as shown in FIG. 2( b)and FIG. 2 (c), the specific color-weighting coefficient-calculatingunit 10 determines the weighting coefficient kc with respect to chromaand the weighting coefficient ky with respect to brightness.

After determination of the weighting coefficients kh, kc and ky, thespecific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 10 determines thespecific color-weighting coefficient k using the following formula 1,and outputs the weighting coefficient k to the specificcolor-multiplying unit 12 and the total color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit 11.k=k _(y) ×k _(c) ×k _(h)  (Formula 1)

Thus, the specific color-weighting coefficient k is determined based onthe weighting coefficient ky evaluated on a brightness y axis, theweighting coefficient kc evaluated on a chroma c axis, and the weightingcoefficient kh evaluated on the hue h axis.

The determination of the specific color-weighting coefficient k does nothave to use a function expressed by a formula, for example theformula 1. It is sufficient practically that the specificcolor-weighting coefficient k decreases when a distance between theinputted color and the specific color increases in a color space towhich the inputted color and the specific color belong.

The total color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 11 inputs thespecific color-weighting coefficient k from the specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit 10, and outputs the total color-weightingcoefficient (1−k), which is a weighting coefficient used for adjustmentof the total color (except the specific color), to the totalcolor-multiplying unit 13.

Furthermore, while the above-mentioned conditions are fulfilled, whenthe degree that the specific color-adjusting stage 100 adjusts theinputted color increases, then the degree that the total color-adjustingstage 200 adjusts the inputted color decreases, and vice versa.

The specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 14 outputs anadjusting vector δ (δy, δc, δh) that adjusts the inputted color withrespect to the specific color, to the specific color-multiplying unit12. The total color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 15 outputs anadjusting vector Δ (Δy, Δc, Δh) that adjusts the inputted color withrespect to the total color (except the specific color) to the totalcolor-multiplying unit 13.

When the inputted color is (y, c, h), an outputted color (y′, c′, h′)generated is determined using the following three formulas 2, 3 and 4.y′=y+k×δ _(y)+(1−k)×Δ_(y)  (Formula 2)c′=c+k×δ _(c)+(1−k)×Δ_(c)  (Formula 3)h′=h+k×δ _(h)+(1−k)×Δ_(h)  (Formula 4)

The specific color-weighting coefficient k, the total color-weightingcoefficient (1−k), the specific color-adjusting vector δ, and the totalcolor-adjusting vector Δ may be determined by calculations, using theformulas 1 to 4. However, preferably, these coefficients and vectors aredetermined by referring to a look-up table that stores results of thecalculations to perform more rapid operation.

According to the embodiment 1, the following effects can be obtained.

(Effect 1) When the color-adjusting apparatus according to conventionaltechniques should adjust both of the specific color and the total color,the color-adjusting apparatus performs a specific color adjustment aftera total color adjustment. Concerning the specific color, duplicatedadjustments must be made. Therefore, quality of image may bedeteriorated very easily, caused by the quantization error and/or theclip of a value, and so on.

On the contrary, according to the embodiment 1, with respect to thespecific color, the total color adjustment and the specific coloradjustment are not duplicated. Therefore, the color-adjusting apparatusaccording to the embodiment 1 can retain fine quality of image,suppressing possible occurrence of the quantization error and/or theclip of a value, and so on.

(Effect 2) Since the total color-adjusting vector and the specificcolor-adjusting vector changes gradually and cooperatively (see FIG. 2(a) etc.), also in the neighborhood of a boundary whose color is thespecific color, pseudo contours hardly appear.

(Effect 3) Not a result vector of direct conversion of the inputtedcolor, but the sum of the inputted color, the total color-adjustingvector, and the specific color-adjusting vector, is outputted as theadjusted color. Therefore, the adjusted color does not lose gradation ofthe inputted color caused by quantization errors, and so on.

(Effect 4) When a color-adjusting apparatus according to conventionaltechniques should not change brightness and/or chroma with respect tothe specific color and should change hue of the specific color topreferred one, the color-adjusting apparatus performs a specific coloradjustment after a total color adjustment. The adjustments becomenon-linear conversion as a whole.

In the same case, conversion of the color-adjusting apparatus accordingto the embodiment 1 is linear as a whole. A user thereof can think thatthe specific color-adjusting vector and the total color-adjusting vectorare independent to each other, and can set the vectors. Therefore, theuser can adjust the inputted color with respect to the specific coloreasily.

The embodiment 1 may be changed as follows: In the embodiment 1, theinputted color uses the YCbCr color space. However, the color space maybe another one, such as an RGB color space, a CMYK color space, aCIE-LAB color space, and an HSV color space. When the CIE-LAB colorspace is used, since a distance in the CIE-LAB color space isproportional to a degree of difference that a human feels between acolor and another color, it is easy to determine the specificcolor-weighting coefficient k.

When a used color space is a color space (for example, the YCbCr colorspace and the HSV color space) that is defined using three attributes(for example, brightness, chroma and hue), the user can determine thecolor-adjusting vectors easily, because the user can understand thecolor-adjusting vectors, intuitively.

(Embodiment 2)

Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 8, an embodiment 2 of the present inventionwill now be explained. In order to avoid duplicated explanation,hereinafter, explanation of the same points as the embodiment 1 isomitted.

In the embodiment 2, differing from the embodiment 1, the inputted coloris adjusted with respect to a plurality of specific colors utilizingadjusting vectors that are determined based on the inputted color, and acolor space of the inputted color is mapped into an adjustment colorspace.

More particularly, in the embodiment 2, the plurality of specific colorsare three “memory colors” (skin color, grass green, and sky blue).

As shown in FIG. 3, a specific color-adjusting stage 100 comprises thefollowing elements.

A skin color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 21 calculates aspecific color-weighting coefficient k1 that indicates an approximationdegree of the inputted color and skin color. A skin color-adjustingvector-outputting unit 29 outputs a specific color-adjusting vector 61with respect to skin color. The specific color-multiplying unit 25multiplies the specific color-adjusting vector δ1 by a scalar of thespecific color-weighting coefficient k1 to output a result vector k1*δ1of a skin color adjustment to the composing unit 33.

A sky blue-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 22 calculates aspecific color-weighting coefficient k2 that indicates an approximationdegree of the inputted color and sky blue. A sky blue-adjustingvector-outputting unit 30 outputs a specific color-adjusting vector δ2with respect to sky blue. The specific color-multiplying unit 26multiplies the specific color-adjusting vector δ2 by a scalar of thespecific color-weighting coefficient k2 to output a result vector k2*δ2of a sky blue adjustment to the composing unit 33.

A grass green-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 23 calculates aspecific color-weighting coefficient k3 that indicates an approximationdegree of the inputted color and grass green. A grass green-adjustingvector-outputting unit 31 outputs a specific color-adjusting vector 63with respect to grass green. The specific color-multiplying unit 27multiplies the specific color-adjusting vector 63 by a scalar of thespecific color-weighting coefficient k3 to output a result vector k3*δ3of a grass green adjustment to the composing unit 33.

In the embodiment 1, one specific color-weighting coefficient k is used.However, in the embodiment 2, the plurality of specific color-weightingcoefficients k1 (=k1, k2, . . . , kn) are used, where n is a naturalnumber indicating how many specific colors are handled. In thisembodiment, n=3.

In general, when the inputted color equals a specific colorcorresponding to one of the plurality of specific color-weightingcoefficients ki, whose value is “1”, that is, a maximum value thereof.When a distance between the inputted color and a specific colorincreases, the total color-weighting coefficients ki corresponding tothe specific color decreases from the maximum value.

A total color-adjusting stage 200 comprises the following elements.

A total color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 24 calculates atotal color-weighting coefficient (1−Σki, where Σki means summation ofki with i=1 to n; n=3 in the present embodiment). In this embodiment,the plurality of specific color-weighting coefficients ki are used, thetotal color-weighting coefficient is the value of “1” minus the sum Σki.

Similarly to the case where one specific color-weighting coefficient kis used, when the sum Σki equals a value of “1”, the total coloradjustment is cancelled substantially. When the sum Σki equals zero, thespecific color adjustment is cancelled substantially. Note that, whenthe sum Σki=1 or 0, the total color adjustment and the specific coloradjustments are not duplicated.

A total color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 32 outputs a totalcolor-adjusting vector Δ to a total color-multiplying unit 28.

A total color-multiplying unit 28 multiplies the total color-adjustingvector Δ by a scalar of the total color-weighting coefficient (1−Σki) tooutput a result vector (1−Σki)*Δ of a total color adjustment to thecomposing unit 33.

A color space-converting unit 20 is provided prior to both of thespecific color-adjusting stage 100 and the total color-adjusting stage200. A color space-inverse converting unit 34 is provided next to thecomposing unit 33.

The color space-converting unit 20 maps the inputted color in an RGBcolor space, which is an original color space thereof, into the inputtedcolor in an HSV color space, whose coordinates relate to brightness,chroma, and hue, respectively.

The composing unit 33 outputs an adjusted color in the HSV color spaceto the space-inverse converting unit 34. The space-inverse convertingunit 34 maps the adjusted color in the HSV color into the adjusted colorin the RGB color space.

The skin color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 21, whose specificcolor is skin color, outputs the specific color-weighting coefficient k1according to FIG. 4( a), FIG. 4( b) and FIG. 4( c).

Similarly, the sky blue-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 22, whosespecific color is sky blue, outputs the specific color-weightingcoefficient k2 according to FIG. 4 (d), FIG. 4( e) and FIG. 4( f). Thegrass green specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 23,whose specific color is grass green, outputs the specificcolor-weighting coefficient k3 according to FIG. 4( g), FIG. 4( h) andFIG. 4( i).

A set of FIG. 4( a) to FIG. 4( c) has the same characteristic as that ofa set of FIG. 2( a) to FIG. 2( c), because the two sets relate to skincolor, mutually. Each of a set of FIG. 4( d) to FIG. 4( f) and a set ofFIG. 4( g) to FIG. 4( i), has a characteristic different from that ofthe set of FIG. 2( a) to FIG. 2( c), according to the specific colorrelated thereto.

In each of the set of FIG. 4( a) to FIG. 4( c), the set of FIG. 4( d) toFIG. 4( f), and the set of FIG. 4( g) to FIG. 4( i), the center hue P1and the boundaries P2 and P3 thereof have a positional relationshipsimilar to that of the set of FIG. 2( a) to FIG. 2( c).

Herein, it is assumed that a corresponding axis is one of a hue axis, achroma axis and a brightness axis. In each of the set of FIG. 4( a) toFIG. 4( c), the set of FIG. 4 (d) to FIG. 4( f), and the set of FIG. 4(g) to FIG. 4( i), when a color (h, s, v) equals the specific color (hx,sx, vx) in the corresponding axis, the weighting coefficient of thecorresponding axis is a maximum value of “1”. When a distance betweenthe color (h, s, v) and the specific color (hx, sx, vx) increases, theweighting coefficients of the corresponding axis tends to decrease to aminimum value of “0” at least.

The total color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 24 inputs thespecific color-weighting coefficients k1, k2 and k3, and outputs aweighting coefficient kAll expressed by the following formula 5.

$\begin{matrix}{k_{ALL} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{3}k_{i}}} & {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 5}\end{matrix}$

The skin color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 29 inputs the inputtedcolor (h, s, v), which has been mapped into the HSV color space by thecolor space-converting unit 20, and determines the adjusting vectorδ1=(δH1, δS1, δV1), as shown in FIG. 5( a), FIG. 5( b), and FIG. 5( c).

In this example, the inputted color (h, s, v) is adjusted such that achroma coordinate of the inputted color does not change, such that a huecoordinate of the inputted color approaches to a target hue coordinate(the center hue P1 of skin color), and such that a brightness coordinateof the inputted color approaches to a target brightness coordinate,whose brightness is the most preferable as that of skin color.

The sky blue-adjusting vector-outputting unit 30 inputs the inputtedcolor (h, s, v), which has been mapped into the HSV color space by thecolor space-converting unit 20, and determines the adjusting vectorδ2=(δH2, δS2, δV2), as shown in FIG. 5( d), FIG. 5( e), and FIG. 5( f).The grass green-adjusting vector-outputting unit 31 inputs the inputtedcolor (h, s, v), which has been mapped into the HSV color space by thecolor space-converting unit 20, and determines the adjusting vectorδ3=(δH3, δS3, δV3), as shown in FIG. 5( g), FIG. 5( h), and FIG. 5( i).

FIG. 6 explains an example of a total color-adjusting vector outputtedfrom the total color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 32. In thisexample, the total color-adjusting vector adjusts the inputted vector(h, s, v) such that the hue coordinate of the inputted vector does notchange, that the chroma coordinate of the inputted vector is multipliedby a factor of “1.2”, and that the brightness coordinate of the inputtedvector is multiplied by a factor of “1.1”.

Herein, vectors δi (i is a natural number, i=1 to 3) are specificcolor-adjusting vectors, and Δ is a total color-adjusting vector. Anoutputted color (H′, S′, V′), adjusted from an inputted color (H, S, V),is expressed using the following three formulas.

$\begin{matrix}{H^{\prime} = {H + {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{3}\left( {k_{i} \times \delta_{Hi}} \right)} + {\left( {1 - k_{ALL}} \right) \times \Delta_{H}}}} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 6} \right) \\{S^{\prime} = {S + {\sum\limits_{i - 1}^{3}\left( {k_{i} \times \delta_{Si}} \right)} + {\left( {1 - k_{ALL}} \right) \times \Delta_{S}}}} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 7} \right) \\{V^{\prime} = {V + {\sum\limits_{i - 1}^{3}\left( {k_{i} \times \delta_{Vi}} \right)} + {\left( {1 - k_{ALL}} \right) \times \Delta_{V}}}} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 8} \right)\end{matrix}$

Next, the color space-converting unit 20 and the color space-inverseconverting unit 34 will now be explained. As described above, in manycases, the inputted color is expressed in the RGB color space, which isused as control signals for a display device comprising red, green andblue light-emitting elements, as shown in FIG. 7.

In this embodiment, the inputted color in the RGB color space is mappedinto an HSV (H: hue, S: chroma, and V: brightness) color space definedby a hexagonal pyramid model proposed by Smith. The hexagonal pyramidmodel is shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to “Gazou Kaiseki Handbook (image analysis handbook)”, TheTokyo University Press, p.485, the color space-converting unit 20 maymap the inputted color in the RGB color space into the inputted color inthe HSV color space using the following seven formulas.V=max(R, G, B)  (Formula 9)i=min(R, G, B)  (Formula 10)S=(V−i)//V  (Formula 11)r=(V−R)/(V−i)  (Formula 12)g=(V−G)/(V−i)  (Formula 13)b=(V−B)/(V−i)  (Formula 14)When R=V

H=b−gWhen G=V

H=2+r−bWhen B=V

H=4+g−r  (Formula 15)

The color space-inverse converting unit 34 may map the adjusted color inthe HSV color space into the adjusted color in the RGB color space usingthe following two formulas.When S=0, R=G=B=V  (Formula 16)when S≠0,h=floor(H)P=V·(1−S)Q=V·{1−S·(H−h)}T=V·{1−S·(1−H+h)}When h=0

R=V, G=T, B=PWhen h=1

R=Q, G=V, B=PWhen h=2

R=P, G=V, B=Twhen h=3

R=P, G=Q, B=VWhen h=4

R=T, G=P, B=VWhen h=5

R=V, G=P, B=Q  (Formula 17)

Where floor (x) is a function that outputs a whole number part of thenumber “x”.

In general, the capacity of the RGB color space equals the capacity ofthe HSV color space. Therefore, mapping between the RGB color space andthe HSV color space, can be performed one by one, mutually.

For example, the YCbCr color space, which is neither the RGB color spacenor the HSV color space, has a chroma coordinate whose domain exceedsthat of the RGB color space. In the YCbCr color space, it is allowedthat the chroma coordinate has a value pointing the outside of the RGBcolor space. Therefore, mapping an adjusted color in the YCbCr colorspace into the adjusted color in the RGB color space may cause a clip ofthe adjusted color, because of the difference of the domains.

Since each of the RGB color space and the HSV color space has the samecapacity, mapping a color between the RGB color space and the HSV colorspace does not cause any clip of the color.

According to the embodiment 2, the following effects can be obtained.

(Effect 1) Adjustments with respect to a plurality of specific colorsare available. Similarly to the embodiment 1, the total color adjustmentand the specific color adjustments are not duplicated. Therefore, thecolor-adjusting apparatus according to the embodiment 2 can retain finequality of image, suppressing possible occurrence of the quantizationerror and/or the clip of a value, and so on.

Assume a case where hue of the inputted color should be independentlyadjusted with respect to each of the plurality of colors, and where atotal color adjustment should be made such that chroma of the inputtedcolor is multiplied by a factor of “1.2”.

In this case, according to the embodiment 2, it is sufficient todetermine each of specific color-adjusting vectors such that the chromaof the inputted color is multiplied by a factor of “1.2”. When thiscondition is fulfilled, since the total color-weighting coefficient isdetermined based on the specific color-weighting coefficients (see, theformula 1), the inputted color is adjusted such that the chroma of theinputted color is multiplied by a factor of “1.2”, as expected.Furthermore, this adjustment can be made, even when one color of theplurality of specific colors is so close to another color that weightingcoefficients of the two colors overlap with each other.

(Effect 2) Since the color space where the inputted color is adjusted isthe HSV color space, a clip of the inputted color caused by mapping theinputted color in the RGB color space into the inputted color in thecolor space where the inputted color is adjusted. A clip of the adjustedcolor does not occur even in reversely mapping the adjusted color in thecolor space where the inputted color is adjusted into the adjusted colorin the RGB color space.

That is, according to the embodiment 2, a problem of clipping, which isoften encountered in the prior art when a color space of a color ismapped, has been resolved automatically. Therefore, a user of thecolor-adjusting apparatus according to the embodiment 2 need not givecareful consideration to the problem.

The embodiment 2 may be changed as follows:

(1) In the embodiment 2, specific colors are skin color, sky blue, andgrass green. However, the specific colors may be other colors, such asbright sky blue, dark sky blue, red, and yellow, and so on. Furthermore,the number of the specific colors may be changed.

(2) In the embodiment 2, the color space where the inputted color isadjusted is the HSV color space. However, the color space where theinputted color is adjusted may be another color space, such as the RGBcolor space, the CMYK color space, the CIE-LAB color space, and theYCbCr color space.

(3) In the embodiment 2, the color space of the inputted color is theRGB color space. However, the color space of the inputted color may beanother color space, such as the YCbCr color space. It is sufficientthat the color space-converting unit can map the inputted color in acolor space into the inputted color in a color space for coloradjustment. Furthermore, the color space, into which the colorspace-converting unit maps, is not limited to the HSV color space.

(4) In the embodiment 2, a color space of the outputted color is the RGBcolor space. However, the color space of the outputted color may beanother color space, such as the CMY color space and does not have toequal the color space of the inputted color.

(5) In the embodiment 2, the hexagonal pyramid model is used. However,another approximation model, such as a bi-hexagonal pyramid model, andso on, may be used.

(Embodiment 3)

Referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 10, an embodiment 3 of the present inventionwill now be explained. In order to avoid duplicated explanation,hereinafter, explanation of the same points as the embodiment 1 isomitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, a composing unit 50 composes linearly a vectoroutputted from the specific color-adjusting stage 100 and a vectoroutputted from the total color-adjusting stage 200. A colorspace-converting unit 40 and a color space-inverse converting unit 51are the same as those having the same names in FIG. 3, respectively.

A color area-judging unit 41 stores individual area information for acolor space divided into a plurality of areas, determines an area towhich the inputted color belongs. The color area-judging unit 41 furtheroutputs the area information corresponding to the inputted color to thefollowing three units; a specific color-weighting coefficient-selectingunit 42, a specific color-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit43, and a specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 44.

The specific color-weighting coefficient-selecting unit 42 stores aplurality of specific color-weighting coefficients. When the specificcolor-weighting coefficient-selecting unit 42 inputs the areainformation corresponding to the inputted color from the colorarea-judging unit 41, the specific color-weighting coefficient-selectingunit 42 selects a specific color-weighting coefficient corresponding tothe area information, from the plurality of specific color-weightingcoefficients stored therein, and outputs the selected specificcolor-weighting coefficient to the specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit 44.

The specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 44 calculatesa specific color-weighting coefficient k, which indicates anapproximation degree of the inputted color and the specific color. Thespecific color-weighting coefficient k is inputted from the specificcolor-weighting coefficient-selecting unit 42, and corresponds to thearea information determined by the color area-judging unit 41.Furthermore, the specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit44 outputs the specific color-weighting coefficient k to a totalcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 45 and a multiplying unit46.

The specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 44 uses thearea information as an offset of a current domain. The current domaindefines one of the plurality of areas into which the color area-judgingunit 41 divides the color space of the inputted color.

The specific color-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit 43 storesa plurality of specific color-adjusting vector coefficients fordetermining specific color-adjusting vectors. The specificcolor-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit 43 inputs the areainformation from the color area-judging unit 41, and outputs a specificcolor-adjusting vector coefficient corresponding to the areainformation, from the plurality of specific color-adjusting vectorcoefficients stored therein, to the specific color-adjustingvector-outputting unit 47.

The specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 47 inputs thespecific color-adjusting vector coefficient from the specificcolor-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit 43, and determines aspecific color-adjusting vector 6 corresponding to the area information.Then, the specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 47 outputs thespecific color-adjusting vector δ corresponding to the area information,to the multiplying unit 46.

In the embodiment 3, similarly to the embodiment 2, adjustments withrespect to a plurality of specific colors and an adjustment with respectto the total color are made in parallel.

However, as shown in FIG. 10( a) to FIG. 10( c), in the embodiment 3,dissimilarly to the embodiment 2, the color space of the inputted coloris divided into a plurality of areas (a first area, a second area, and athird area in the present embodiment) such that each of the plurality ofspecific colors belongs to each of the plurality of areas, avoidingoverlapping each other.

Differing from the embodiment 2, in the embodiment 3, the colorarea-judging unit 41 judges, among the plurality of areas, an area towhich the inputted color belongs. Then, based on the judgment resultthereof, the specific color-weighting coefficient-selecting unit 42 andthe specific color-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit 43 selectcorresponding coefficients, respectively.

Thereby, differing from the embodiment 2, in the embodiment 3, pairs ofweighting coefficient-calculating units and adjusting vector-outputtingunits need not be provided as many as the number of the specific colorsto perform substantially the same processes as those of the embodiment2.

Referring to FIG. 10, an example of dividing the areas will now beexplained.

FIG. 10( a) to FIG. 10( c) show views in a direction perpendicular tothe brightness V axis. Each of portions with slant lines shows an insideof a selected area. In FIG. 10( a) to FIG. 10( c), a direction of arotation angle shows hue H, and a radial shows chroma S. When the hue Hhas a value of “0” or a value of “6”, the color thereof is red. When thehue H has a value of “2”, the color thereof is green. When the hue H hasa value of “4”, the color thereof is blue.

In this embodiment, the color space of the inputted color is dividedinto the plurality of areas according to the hue H. The colorarea-judging unit 41 determines which area hue of the inputted colorbelongs to, among the first area of FIG. 10( a), the second area of FIG.10( b), and the third area of FIG. 10( c). The color area-judging unit41 outputs a control flag to the specific color-weightingcoefficient-selecting unit 42 and the specific color-adjusting vectorcoefficient-selecting unit 43. In the embodiment 3, the control flag isarea information that corresponds to the area determined by the colorarea-judging unit 41, and an example of the control flag is shown in thefollowing table 1.

TABLE 1 condition control flag 0 ≦ input hue < 2 0 2 ≦ input hue < 4 1 4≦ input hue < 6 2

The specific color-weighting coefficient-selecting unit 42 selects aweighting coefficient corresponding to the control flag, and outputs aselected weighting coefficient to the specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit 44.

The specific color-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit 43selects an adjusting vector coefficient corresponding to the controlflag, and outputs a selected adjusting vector coefficient to thespecific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 47.

The color area-judging unit 41 outputs a number that is the hue of theinputted color minus the offset, to the specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit 44.

When the hue of the inputted color belongs to the first area, the offsetis a value of “0”, and hue outputted from the color area judging unit 41equals the hue of the inputted color.

When the hue of the inputted color belongs to the second area, theoffset is a value of “2”. When the hue of the inputted color belongs tothe third area, the offset is a value of “4”.

When the offset is not a value of “0”, the hue of the inputted color isdecreased by the offset, a domain of the hue h is reduced to that of0<=h<2. Thereby, a circuit scale necessary for handling information ofthe domain can be reduced.

According to the embodiment 3, the following effect can be obtained.

(Effect 1) In the embodiment 2, pairs of weightingcoefficient-calculating units and adjusting vector-outputting unitsshould be provided as many as the number of the specific colors.However, in the embodiment 3, it is sufficient that one pair ofweighting coefficient-calculating unit and adjusting vector-outputtingunit are provided. Thereby, the necessary circuit scale according to theembodiment 3 can be reduced by comparison with that of the embodiment 2.

The embodiment 3 can be changed as follows:

(1) In the embodiment 3, the color area-judging unit 41 judges the colorarea according to the hue of the inputted color. However, anotherjudgment, such as judgment according to the brightness and/or the chromaof the inputted color, judgment according to any value in another colorspace (e.g. the RGB color space), and so on, may be performed.

(2) In the embodiment 3, the color area-judging unit 41 outputs a numberthat is the hue of the inputted color minus the offset to the specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 44. However, the colorarea-judging unit 41 may output the hue of the inputted color to thespecific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 44, directly.

(Embodiment 4)

Referring to FIG. 11 to FIG. 12, an embodiment 4 will now be explained.In order to avoid duplicated explanation, hereinafter, explanation ofthe same points as the embodiment 1 is omitted.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram, illustrating a color-adjusting apparatusaccording to the embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Differing from the embodiment 3, in the embodiment 4, a colorspace-converting unit 60 outputs a result thereof to a specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 61, restrictedly. Further,a color space where calculation of a specific color-weightingcoefficient is performed, is different from a color space wherecalculation of a specific color-weighting coefficient is performed.

The operation of the color-adjusting apparatus according to theembodiment 4 will now be explained.

The color space-converting unit 60 maps the RGB color space of theinputted color into the CIE-LAB color space, using the following fourformulas.

$\begin{matrix}{\begin{pmatrix}X \\Y \\Z\end{pmatrix} = {(M)\begin{pmatrix}R^{\frac{1}{r}} \\G^{\frac{1}{r}} \\B^{\frac{1}{r}}\end{pmatrix}}} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 18} \right) \\{{L^{*} = {{116\left( \frac{Y}{Y_{0}} \right)^{\frac{1}{3}}} - 16}},\left( {\frac{Y}{Y_{0}} > 0.008856} \right)} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 19} \right) \\{a^{*} = {500\left\lbrack {\left( \frac{X}{X_{0}} \right)^{\frac{1}{3}} - \left( \frac{Y}{Y_{0}} \right)^{\frac{1}{3}}} \right\rbrack}} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 20} \right) \\{b^{*} = {200\left\lbrack {\left( \frac{Y}{Y_{0}} \right)^{\frac{1}{3}} - \left( \frac{Z}{Z_{0}} \right)^{\frac{1}{3}}} \right\rbrack}} & \left( {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 21} \right)\end{matrix}$

Herein, assuming that a specific color is (Lx*, ax*, bx*), a specificcolor-weighting coefficient k thereof is expressed using the followingtwo formulas.x=√{square root over ((L* _(x) −L*)²+(a* _(x) −a*)²+(b* _(x)−b*)²)}{square root over ((L* _(x) −L*)²+(a* _(x) −a*)²+(b* _(x)−b*)²)}{square root over ((L* _(x) −L*)²+(a* _(x) −a*)²+(b* _(x)−b*)²)}  (Formula 22)k=f(x)  (Formula 23)

Herein, FIG. 12 shows an example of the function f(x). The specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit 61 operates in the samemanner as that of the specific color-weighting coefficient-calculatingunit 10 of the embodiment 1.

When the specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 63 outputs (δR,δG δB), and the total color-adjusting vector-outputting unit 64 outputs(ΔR, ΔG, ΔB), an outputted color (R′, G′, B′) adjusted from the inputtedcolor (R, G B) is expressed using the following three formulas.R′=R+k×δ _(R)+(1−k)×Δ_(R)  (Formula 24)G′=G+k×δ _(G)+(1−k)×Δ_(G)  (Formula 25)B′=B+k×δ _(B)+(1−k)×Δ_(B)  (Formula 26)

According to this embodiment, the following effect can be obtained.

(Effect 1) The CIE-LAB color space is used when the specificcolor-weighting coefficient is determined, and a distance in the CIE-LABcolor space is proportional to a degree of difference that a humanfeels. Therefore, a user of the color-adjusting apparatus according tothe embodiment 4 can set the specific color-weighting coefficient,intuitively and easily.

Furthermore, since the inputted color is adjusted in the color space ofthe inputted color itself, the following potential problems can beavoided; the quantization error, the clipping of a value, and so on,which may be caused by color space conversion and color space inverseconversion. Thereby, the color-adjusting apparatus according to theembodiment 4 can retain fine quality of image.

The embodiment 4 can be changed as follows:

(1) In the embodiment 4, one specific color is handled. However, aplurality of specific colors, similar to the embodiments 2 and 3, may behandled.

(2) In the embodiment 4, the specific color-weighting coefficient isdetermined in the CIE-LAB color space, and the adjusting vectors aredetermined in the RGB color space. However, it is sufficient that acolor space where calculation of a specific color-weighting coefficientis performed is different from a color space where calculation of aspecific color-weighting coefficient is performed.

According to the present invention, since the total color adjustment andthe specific color adjustment are not duplicated but are made inparallel, the color-adjusting apparatus according to the presentinvention can retain quality of an inputted image fine, suppressingpossible occurrence of the quantization error and/or the clip of avalue, and so on.

Furthermore, since the adjustments as a whole retain linearity, a usercan handle easily the color-adjusting apparatus according to the presentinvention.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with referenceto the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changesand modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

1. A color-adjusting apparatus comprising: a total color-adjusting stageoperable to perform a total color adjustment for data of an inputtedcolor with respect to a total color to output data of a result vector ofthe total color adjustment; a specific color-adjusting stage operable toperform a specific color adjustment for the data of the inputted colorwith respect to a specific color to output data of a result vector ofthe specific color adjustment; and a composing unit operable to linearlycompose the data of the result vector of the total color adjustmentoutput by said total color-adjusting stage and the data of the resultvector of the specific color adjustment output by said specificcolor-adjusting stage; wherein said total color-adjusting stage and saidspecific color-adjusting stage are provided to operate in a parallelmanner; wherein, when a degree that said total color-adjusting stageadjusts the data of the inputted color increases, then a degree thatsaid specific color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputtedcolor decreases; wherein, when a degree that said total color-adjustingstage adjusts the data of the inputted color decreases, then a degreethat said specific color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of theinputted color increases; wherein said total color-adjusting stageincludes a multiplying unit operable to multiply a total color-adjustingvector by a coefficient to generate the data for the result vector ofthe total color adjustment; wherein said total color-adjusting stagecomprises: a total color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit operableto calculate a total color-weighting coefficient indicating anapproximation degree of the inputted color and the total color; a totalcolor-adjusting vector-outputting unit operable to output data of atotal color-adjusting vector with respect to the total color; and atotal color-multiplying unit operable to multiply the totalcolor-adjusting vector by the total color-weighting coefficient tooutput the data of the result vector of the total color adjustment;wherein said specific color-adjusting stage comprises: a specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit operable to calculate aspecific color-weighting coefficient indicating an approximation degreeof the inputted color and the specific color; a specific color-adjustingvector-outputting unit operable to output data of a specificcolor-adjusting vector with respect to the specific color; and aspecific color-multiplying unit operable to multiply the specificcolor-adjusting vector by the specific color-weighting coefficient tooutput the data of the result vector of the specific color adjustment;wherein, when the total color-weighting coefficient increases, then thespecific color-weighting coefficient decreases; wherein, when the totalcolor-weighting coefficient decreases, then the specific color-weightingcoefficient increases; and wherein said composing unit is operable toadd the inputted color, the result vector of the total color adjustment,and the result vector of the specific color adjustment to output data ofan adjusted color.
 2. A color-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein, when the inputted color equals the specific color, the specificcolor-weighting coefficient equals a maximum value; wherein, when adistance in color space between the inputted color and the specificcolor increases, the specific color-weighting coefficient decreases; andwherein, when the inputted color is not equivalent to the specificcolor, the total color-weighting coefficient is equivalent to themaximum value minus the specific color-weighting coefficient.
 3. Acolor-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the specificcolor-weighting coefficient is determined based on a weightingcoefficient kv evaluated on a brightness axis, a weighting coefficientkc evaluated on a chroma axis, and a weighting coefficient kh evaluatedon a hue axis.
 4. A color-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 1,wherein the data of the specific color-adjusting vector is determinedbased on the data of the inputted color.
 5. A color-adjusting apparatusas defined in claim 1, wherein the data of the total color-adjustingvector is determined based on the data of the inputted color.
 6. Acolor-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the specificcolor is selected from a group consisting of a plurality of colors; andwherein the color-adjusting apparatus further comprises a selecting unitoperable to automatically select a color from a group of colors as thespecific color.
 7. A color-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 1,further comprising: a color area-judging unit operable to storeindividual area information of a color space divided into a plurality ofareas; wherein said color area-judging unit is operable to determine anarea to which the inputted color belongs, the area being one of theplurality of areas, and output area information corresponding to theinputted color; wherein said specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit is operable to calculate, using the areainformation corresponding to the inputted color, the specificcolor-weighting coefficients indicating the approximation degree of theinputted color and the specific color; and wherein said specificcolor-adjusting vector-outputting unit is operable to output, using thearea information corresponding to the inputted color, the data of thespecific color-adjusting vector with respect to the specific color.
 8. Acolor-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said specificcolor-adjusting stage further comprises: a specific color-weightingcoefficient-selecting unit operable to store a plurality of specificcolor-weighting coefficients, and operable to output a specificcolor-weighting coefficient among the plurality of specificcolor-weighting coefficients corresponding to the area information; anda specific color-adjusting vector coefficient-selecting unit operable tostore a plurality of specific color-adjusting vector coefficients, andoperable to output a specific color-adjusting vector coefficient amongthe plurality of specific color-adjustment vector coefficientscorresponding to the area information; wherein said specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit is operable to calculate,using the specific color-weighting coefficient corresponding to the areainformation, the specific color-weighting coefficients indicating theapproximation degree of the inputted color and the specific color; andwherein said specific color-adjusting vector-outputting unit is operableto output, using the specific color-adjusting vector coefficientcorresponding to the area information, the data of the specificcolor-adjusting vector with respect to the specific color.
 9. Acolor-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said specificcolor-weighting coefficient-calculating unit is operable to use the areainformation as an offset of a domain that defines one of the pluralityof areas to which the inputted color belongs.
 10. A color-adjustingapparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a colorspace-converting unit operable to map the data of the inputted color inan original color space into data of the inputted color in another colorspace defined by a brightness coordinate, a chroma coordinate, and a huecoordinate, and further operable to output data of the inputted colormapped to the other color space to said specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit.
 11. A color-adjusting apparatus as definedin claim 1, further comprising: a color space-inverse converting unitoperable to map the data of the adjusted color in a color space definedby a brightness coordinate, a chroma coordinate, and a hue coordinateinto data of the adjusted color in an original color space of theinputted color.
 12. A color-adjusting apparatus as defined in claim 10,wherein the color space defined by the brightness coordinate, the chromacoordinate, and the hue coordinate is an HSV color space.
 13. Acolor-adjusting apparatus for adjusting data of an inputted color withrespect to a total color and a plurality of specific colors, saidcolor-adjusting apparatus comprising: a total color-adjusting stageoperable to perform a total color adjustment for the inputted color withrespect to a total color to output data of a result vector of the totalcolor adjustment; a specific color-adjusting stage operable to perform aspecific color adjustment for the inputted color with respect to theplurality of specific colors to output data of a plurality of resultvectors of the specific color adjustment; and a composing unit operableto linearly compose the data of the result vector of the total coloradjustment output by said total color-adjusting stage, and the data ofthe plurality of result vectors of the specific color adjustment outputby said specific color-adjusting stage; wherein said totalcolor-adjusting stage and said specific color-adjusting stage areprovided to operate in a parallel manner; wherein, when a degree thatsaid total color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputted colorincreases, then a degree that said specific color-adjusting stageadjusts the data of the inputted color decreases; wherein, when a degreethat said total color-adjusting stage adjusts the data of the inputtedcolor decreases, then a degree that said specific color-adjusting stageadjusts the data of the inputted color increases: wherein said totalcolor-adjusting stage includes a multiplying unit operable to multiply atotal color-adjusting vector by a coefficient to generate the data forthe result vector of the total color adjustment; wherein said totalcolor-adjusting stage comprises: a total color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit operable to calculate a totalcolor-weighting coefficient indicating an approximation degree of theinputted color and the total color; a total color-adjustingvector-outputting unit operable to output data of a totalcolor-adjusting vector with respect to the total color; and a totalcolor-multiplying unit operable to multiply the total color-adjustingvector by the total color-weighting coefficient to output data of theresult vector of the total color adjustment; wherein said specificcolor-adjusting stage comprises a plurality of sub-stages; wherein eachof said plurality of sub-stages corresponds to each of the plurality ofspecific colors; wherein each of said plurality of sub-stages comprises:a specific color-weighting coefficient-calculating unit operable tocalculate a specific color-weighting coefficient with respect to one ofthe plurality of specific colors, the specific color-weightingcoefficient indicating an approximation degree of the inputted color andone of the plurality of specific colors; a specific color-adjustingvector-outputting unit operable to output data of a specificcolor-adjusting vector with respect to the one of the plurality ofspecific colors; and a specific color-multiplying unit operable tomultiply the specific color-adjusting vector with respect to the one ofthe plurality of specific colors by the specific color-weightingcoefficient calculated by said specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit, and to output data of a result vector ofthe specific color adjustment with respect to the one of the pluralityof specific colors; wherein, when the specific color-weightingcoefficient with respect to each of the plurality of specific colorsincreases, then the total color-weighting coefficient decreases;wherein, when the specific color-weighting coefficient with respect toeach of the plurality of specific colors decreases, then the totalcolor-weighting coefficient increases; wherein the plurality of resultvectors of the specific color adjustment are composed of the sum ofresult vectors of the specific color adjustment with respect to theplurality of specific colors, each data of the result vectors of thespecific color adjustment being outputted from a corresponding one ofsaid plurality of sub-stages as data of the result vector of thespecific color adjustment with respect to each of the plurality ofspecific colors; and wherein said composing unit is operable to add theinputted color, the result vector of the total color adjustment, and theplurality of result vectors of the specific color adjustment to outputdata of an adjusted color.
 14. A color-adjusting apparatus as defined inclaim 13, wherein, when the inputted color is equivalent to one of theplurality of specific colors, a specific color-weighting coefficientwith respect to the corresponding specific color is equivalent to amaximum value, and when a distance between the inputted color and eachof the plurality of specific colors increases, the specificcolor-weighting coefficient with respect to each of the plurality ofspecific colors decreases; and wherein, when the inputted color is notequivalent to each of the plurality of specific colors, the totalcolor-weighting coefficient is equivalent to the maximum value minus thesum of a plurality of specific color-weighting coefficients, each of theplurality of specific color-weighting coefficients being calculated asthe specific color-weighting coefficient with respect to each of theplurality of specific colors by said specific color-weightingcoefficient-calculating unit being comprised by one of said plurality ofsub-stages.
 15. A color-adjusting method for adjusting an inputted colorwith respect color and a specific color, said color-adjusting methodcomprising: performing a total color adjustment for an inputted colorwith respect to a total color to output a result vector of the totalcolor adjustment, said performing the total color adjustment includingmultiplying a total color-adjusting vector by a coefficient to generatethe data of the result vector of the total color adjustment; performinga specific color adjustment for the inputted color with respect to thespecific color to output a result vector of the specific coloradjustment; and linearly composing the result vector of the total coloradjustment output by said performing the total color adjustment and theresult vector of the specific color adjustment output by said performingthe specific color adjustment; wherein said performing the total coloradjustment for the inputted color with respect to the total color andsaid performing the specific color adjustment for the inputted colorwith respect to the specific color are performed in parallel; wherein,when a degree that said performing the total color adjustment for theinputted color with respect to the total color increases, then a degreethat said performing the specific color adjustment for the inputtedcolor with respect to the specific color decreases; wherein, when adegree that said performing the total color adjustment for the inputtedcolor with respect to the total color adjusts the inputted colordecreases, then a degree that said performing the specific coloradjustment for the inputted color with respect to the specific coloradjusts the inputted color increases; wherein said performing the totalcolor adjustment for the inputted color with respect to the total colorfurther comprises: calculating a total color-weighting coefficientindicating an approximation degree of the inputted color and the totalcolor; outputting a total color-adjusting vector with respect to thetotal color; and multiplying the total color-adjusting vector by thetotal color-weighting coefficient to output the result vector of thetotal color adjustment; wherein said performing the specific coloradjustment for the inputted color with respect to the specific colorfurther comprises: calculating a specific color-weighting coefficientindicating an approximation degree of the inputted color and thespecific color; outputting a specific color-adjusting vector withrespect to the specific color; and multiplying the specificcolor-adjusting vector by the specific color-weighting coefficient tooutput the result vector of the specific color adjustment; wherein, whenthe total color-weighting coefficient increases, then the specificcolor-weighting coefficient decreases; wherein, when the totalcolor-weighting coefficient decreases, then the specific color-weightingcoefficient increases; and wherein said linearly composing the resultvector of the total color adjustment and the result vector of thespecific color adjustment, further comprises: adding the inputted color,the result vector of the total color adjustment, and the result vectorof the specific color adjustment to output an adjusted color.
 16. Acolor-adjusting method as defined in claim 15, wherein, when theinputted color is equivalent to the specific color, the specificcolor-weighting coefficient is equivalent to a maximum value; wherein,when a distance in color space between the inputted color and thespecific color increases, the specific color-weighting coefficientdecreases; and wherein, when the inputted color is not equivalent to thespecific color, the total color-weighting coefficient is equivalent tothe maximum value minus the specific color-weighting coefficient.
 17. Acolor-adjusting method as defined in claim 15, wherein the specificcolor-weighting coefficient is determined based on a weightingcoefficient kv evaluated on a brightness axis, a weighting coefficientkc evaluated on a chroma axis, and a weighting coefficient kh evaluatedon a hue axis.
 18. A color-adjusting method as defined in claim 15,wherein the specific color is selected from a group consisting of aplurality of colors; and wherein the color-adjusting method furthercomprises automatically selecting a color from a group as the specificcolor.
 19. A color-adjusting method as defined in claim 15, furthercomprising: storing individual area information of a color space dividedinto a plurality of areas; determining an area to which the inputtedcolor belongs, the area being one of the plurality of areas; andoutputting area information corresponding to the inputted color; whereineach of said calculating the specific color-weighting coefficient andsaid outputting the specific color-adjusting vector with respect to thespecific color, uses the area information corresponding to the inputtedcolor.
 20. A color-adjusting method as defined in claim 19, wherein saidperforming the specific color adjustment for the inputted color withrespect to the specific color further comprises: storing a plurality ofspecific color-weighting coefficients; outputting a specificcolor-weighting coefficient among the plurality of specificcolor-weighting coefficients with respect to the area informationcorresponding to the inputted color; storing a plurality of specificcolor-adjusting vector coefficients; and outputting a specificcolor-adjusting vector coefficient among the plurality of specificcolor-adjusting vector coefficients with respect to the area informationcorresponding to the inputted color; wherein said calculating thespecific color-weighting coefficient uses the specific color- weightingcoefficient among the plurality of specific color-weighting coefficientswith respect to the area information corresponding to the inputtedcolor; and wherein said outputting the specific color-adjusting vectorwith respect to the specific color outputs the specific color-adjustingvector coefficient among the plurality of specific color-adjustingvector coefficients with respect to the area information correspondingto the inputted color.
 21. A color-adjusting method as defined in claim19, wherein said calculating the specific color-weighting coefficientuses the area information as an offset of a domain that defines one ofthe plurality of areas to which the inputted color belongs.
 22. Acolor-adjusting method as defined in claim 15, further comprising:mapping the inputted color in an original color space into the inputtedcolor in another color space defined by a brightness coordinate, achroma coordinate, and a hue coordinate; and outputting the inputtedcolor mapped to the other color space.
 23. A color-adjusting method asdefined in claim 15, further comprising: mapping the adjusted color in acolor space that is defined by a brightness coordinate, a chromacoordinate, and a hue coordinate, into the adjusted color in an originalcolor space of the inputted color.